The esteemed news presenter, who is now 61 years old, has been the face of the BBC’s flagship nightly news programme for the past two decades. Huw Edwards, originally from Bridgend and raised in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1984. Over his forty-year tenure, he has been at the forefront of the broadcasting teams covering historic events such as the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth in 2022 and most recently, King Charles’ coronation in May of this year. In fact, Edwards announced the death of Queen Elizabeth on the BBC in September of last year, following an image of the half-masted flag at Buckingham Palace. Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and black tie – in accordance with the BBC’s dress code of respect for the royal family – Edwards read the palace’s statement.
Edwards is the go-to presenter for major news events at the BBC, having fronted live broadcasts of election coverage, Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilees in 2012 and 2022 respectively, the weddings of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, as well as the funeral of the late Duke of Edinburgh in 2021. He is well-known as the BBC’s voice at events like Trooping the Colour and the Festival of Remembrance. Prior to his current role, Edwards spent 13 years as a Westminster correspondent, playing a vital role in the BBC’s political reporting. In 2019, he took over election coverage from the long-standing David Dimbleby. In a 2019 interview with the Radio Times, Edwards revealed that he had been approached with the possibility of becoming the lead newsreader since 1992, and that it had always been in the back of his mind.
In a 2021 documentary, Edwards disclosed his battles with depression, which have left him bedridden since 2002. He opened up about his depression, feeling it would be hypocritical to support mental health organizations without sharing his own experiences. Edwards expressed that he believed it might be helpful for others to know that it is possible to be successful while dealing with issues like depression. As the highest-paid newsreader at the BBC, Edwards has a pay bracket of £435,000 – £439,999, making him the fourth highest-paid on the list. In 2018, he took a pay cut following revelations of gender pay inequality at the BBC.
In 2019, at the age of 58, Edwards decided to focus on his health and underwent a physical transformation. He lost weight and began training with former professional boxer Clinton McKenzie. Edwards stated that he made the change because he felt physically and mentally unhealthy. He was unhappy with his appearance and realized that he had been neglecting his general health and well-being. Losing weight and getting fit has had a transformative effect on his life.
Approaching his 60th birthday, Edwards considered his future as the presenter of News At Ten. He acknowledged the toll that the nightly news business can take after 20 years, but emphasized that he still enjoys the job. Edwards believes that it is fair to allow viewers to experience a change and to provide talented colleagues with an opportunity to shine. However, he is not planning to give up journalism entirely and intends to continue his work on the 10 o’clock news for the time being. Edwards recognizes the need to reassess his working patterns and believes that sustaining the current pace for an extended period would not be wise.
In a 2002 interview, Edwards expressed his desire to establish his own identity as the presenter of News At Ten. He wanted to deliver the news in his own way, distinct from his predecessors Peter Sissons and Michael Buerk. Edwards attended Llanelli Grammar School and earned a degree in French from Cardiff University. He is currently an honorary professor in the School of Journalism, Media, and Culture at his alma mater. Recently, he received the best live event award at the Tric Awards for his coverage of the state funeral of the late queen and was honored with the Broadcast Awards special recognition award. Additionally, it was announced that Edwards would join the TV presenting lineup for the Proms in 2023. He serves as a vice president for the National Churches Trust and has appeared on Songs of Praise.
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